adjective
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(of an action) negligent; careless
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(of a person's appearance) slovenly; down-at-heel
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of slipshod
Explanation
When someone does something in a slipshod manner, they do it in a way that's careless and sloppy — that isn't right. An easy way to remember the meaning of slipshod is to note that "shod" is part of "shoddy," another word for slipshod. (Alert: despite their similarity, slipshod isn't genetically related to shoddy.) Or you can use "slip" to clue yourself in. Originally, someone who looked slipshod was wearing worn-out slippers: they were shod in slippers.
Vocabulary lists containing slipshod
Oh, No! Synonyms for "Bad"
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It must have slipped my mind...
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The overall impression I get is of a generally slipshod approach to maintenance," he added.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
And it’s merely one example of the bill’s slipshod construction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
But she still objected to her colleagues’ slipshod way of killing it prematurely over the shadow docket.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2025
As for whether the government’s action will cure TD Bank of its slipshod approach to money laundering, only time will tell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2024
He talked to informed people, officials, ambassadors; he read reports, even the fine print and figures, while I in my slipshod manner roved about with actors, gypsies, vagabonds.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
